Gareth Barry has recovered from Ozil World Cup horror, and will shine against Arsenal

Chasing shadows: Ozil gave Barry a torrid time at WC 2010 (Image: Getty)

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Gareth Barry may have served his country with ­distinction, yet his 53-cap England career seems destined to be remembered for the World Cup torment he suffered at the hands of Mesut Ozil.

The sight of Ozil leaving Barry for dead in Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium to set up a fourth German goal for Thomas Muller ­encapsulated the gulf in class between England and the rest of the world in 2010.

Barry faces Ozil at the Emirates again today, with demons to be exorcised and points to be proved after a summer which saw Manchester City allow the 32-year-old to spend the final year of his contract on-loan at Everton.

He is certainly winning friends and influencing people at Goodison - the Merseysiders are unbeaten in all 10 Premier League games in which Barry has featured - and Roberto Martinez has no doubts that he is both good enough to keep Ozil at bay and reclaim a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.

“Football is a game of errors. It’s about how you react and learn from those errors that matters.

“Gareth is using all the experience he has gained for Everton. He’s in a good moment, with a new club, and we are delighted with him.

“His age is an advantage rather than a disadvantage because of the experience he brings to the team. You won’t win games with 11 older players or 11 younger players. It’s all about balance and having the right partnerships.

“Gareth has experience, know-how and quality and it is all about getting the right partner for him.”

Martinez insists his No.18 would be treasured if he hadn’t been born an Englishman because his qualities find little appreciation over here.

He said: “Maybe Gareth would be more appreciated if he was a foreign player. The role he plays just isn’t glamorous for some English people to appreciate because they like their midfield players to operate from box-to-box all of the time.

“But Gareth is an example that England can produce footballers with excellent technical quality who also have good tactical ­awareness.

“Michael Carrick has played in the same role with great success for Manchester United, but after that all the best players in what I call the No.6 position are all foreigners.

“It is a key role. Gareth is an unsung hero, but teams need someone that has the understanding and the know-how and can gives you the balance in the side.”